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By Anglican Communion Submitted by Injun Joe Date: 2003 Nov 30 Comment on this Work [[2003.11.30.23.31.32375]] |
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1988 and 1998 Lambeth Conference of Anglican Bishops Resolutions Resolution 64 Human Rights for Those of Homosexual Orientation This Conference: 1. Reaffirms the statement of the Lambeth Conference of 1978 on homosexuality, recognising the continuing need in the next decade for "deep and dispassionate study of the question of homosexuality, which would take seriously both the teaching of Scripture and the results of scientific and medical research." 2. Urges such study and reflection to take account of biological, genetic and psychological research being undertaken by other agencies, and the socio-cultural factors that lead to the different attitudes in the provinces of our Communion. 3. Calls each province to reassess, in the light of such study and because of our concern for human rights, its care for and attitude towards persons of homosexual orientation. (See further paras 153-155 of the Report on "Christianity and the Social Order.") Resolution I.10 Human Sexuality This Conference: (a) commends to the Church the subsection report on human sexuality; (b) in view of the teaching of Scripture, upholds faithfulness in marriage between a man and a woman in lifelong union, and believes that abstinence is right for those who are not called to marriage; (c) recognises that there are among us persons who experience themselves as having a homosexual orientation. Many of these are members of the Church and are seeking the pastoral care, moral direction of the Church, and God's transforming power for the living of their lives and the ordering of relationships. We commit ourselves to listen to the experience of homosexual persons and we wish to assure them that they are loved by God and that all baptised, believing and faithful persons, regardless of sexual orientation, are full members of the Body of Christ; (d) while rejecting homosexual practice as incompatible with Scripture, calls on all our people to minister pastorally and sensitively to all irrespective of sexual orientation and to condemn irrational fear of homosexuals, violence within marriage and any trivialisation and commercialisation of sex; (e) cannot advise the legitimising or blessing of same sex unions nor ordaining those involved in same gender unions; (f) requests the Primates and the ACC to establish a means of monitoring the work done on the subject of human sexuality in the Communion and to share statements and resources among us; (g) notes the significance of the Kuala Lumpur Statement on Human Sexuality and the concerns expressed in resolutions IV.26, V.1, V.10, V.23 and V.35 on the authority of Scripture in matters of marriage and sexuality and asks the Primates and the ACC to include them in their monitoring process. ANGLICAN COMMUNION NEWS SERVICE ACNS 3669 ENGLAND 4 NOVEMBER 2003 Some issues in human sexuality: a guide to the debate [ACNS source: Church of England] The House of Bishops [of the Church of England] has commended for study a guide to some aspects of the debate on human sexuality. Some Issues in Human Sexuality: A Guide to the Debate, requested by the House three years ago, sets out a variety of views on homosexuality, bisexuality and transsexualism and seeks to promote informed reflection on them. It neither changes nor suggests changes to current Church policy. "Recent events have highlighted the need for such a guide," said the Rt Revd Richard Harries, Bishop of Oxford and chairman of the group of bishops that produced the Guide, "and the House of Bishops believes it has become timely to publish this study guide now to help Christian people think through different aspects of gay, lesbian and transsexual relationships." The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, said that the report was intended to deepen the Church's study on the issue: "It is clear that there is a real need for more study of the issues raised by human sexuality. We have done a great deal of work as a church on this matter and we know that there is much still be to be learned. "I hope that this report will help us to develop our understanding and to address the challenges that we still face." When the House asked a group of bishops, in 1999, to prepare a study guide on some issues in human sexuality, it was conscious of the need to listen to the experience of homosexuals as called for in the 1998 Lambeth Conference Resolution 1.10. Furthermore there has also been a great deal of published material in this field since the House's 1991 Statement Issues in Human Sexuality appeared. In June 2003 the House of Bishops - following discussion at the annual meeting of all Church of England bishops - agreed to publish Some Issues in Human Sexuality: A Guide to the Debate under its authority and to commend it to the Church for study. As is stated in the Foreword to the document, 'it works within the parameters of the House's 1991 Statement Issues in Human Sexuality and does not seek to change the position of the House of Bishops from the one expressed there'. It is a study guide, designed to complement Issues rather than to make specific policy statements or recommendations. The document is intended as a resource to enable people within the Church to understand these complex and sensitive matters more clearly and reflect more deeply on them. A short accompanying booklet, A Companion to Some Issues in Human Sexuality, with study material for individuals and groups, is being provided to assist the wider Church - in the General Synod, dioceses, parishes and elsewhere - in its continuing reflection. The timing of any debate on the document in the Synod will be a matter for the Synod's Business Committee. The Synod next meets in February and again in July 2004. Some Issues in Human Sexuality: A Guide to the Debate, price £12.95, and A Companion to Some Issues in Human Sexuality, price £2.50, are published by Church House Publishing and are available from some Christian bookshops and: Church House Bookshop 31 Great Smith Street London SW1P 3BN, UK Tel: +44 (0)20 7898 1305 Email: bookshop@c-of-e.org.uk or on the web at: www.chbookshop.co.uk (mail order available) Text of "Call to Action" issued by the American Anglican Council's "A Place to Stand" Conference in Texas [ACNS source: American Anglican Council] In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. As Anglican Christians committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, under the authority of Holy Scripture, and members of God's one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church: 1. We proclaim our Lord's Great Commandment and His Great Commission to be our life's highest calling. 2. We repudiate the 74th General Convention's confirmation of a non-celibate homosexual to be a bishop of the Church, and its acceptance of same-sex blessings as part of our common life. These actions have broken fellowship with the larger body of Christ and have brought the Episcopal Church under God's judgment. 3. We repent of our part in the sins of the Episcopal Church, and we pray for all those who are being hurt and led astray by these actions. 4. We call the leadership of the Episcopal Church to repent of and reverse the unbiblical and schismatic actions of the General Convention. 5. We declare our commitment to the Lord's life-giving teaching about sexuality and marriage embraced by Christians throughout all ages, and as affirmed by the 1998 Lambeth Conference. We celebrate God's unconditional love for all people, and we proclaim God's transforming power for everyone seeking sexual purity and wholeness. 6. We redirect our financial resources, to the fullest extent possible, toward biblically orthodox mission and ministry, and away from those structures that support the unrighteous actions of the General Convention. We will support our partners in the Anglican Communion. 7. We appeal to the Primates of the Anglican Communion to intervene in the Episcopal Church to: 1. Discipline those bishops in the Episcopal Church who, by their actions, have departed from biblical faith and order; 2. Guide the realignment of Anglicanism in North America; 3. Encourage orthodox bishops as they extend episcopal oversight, pastoral care, and apostolic mission across current diocesan boundaries; and 4. Support isolated and beleaguered parishes and individuals in their life and witness as faithful Anglican Christians. To the glory of God. Amen. FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/special/humansexuality/index.html |